15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

For the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are encouraged to think about growing the Kingdom of God. Is my heart ready? The themes of discipleship, scripture, and evangelization may arise. This is a time to think about the importance of our relationship with God and how it helps us bear fruit. We must spread the gospel and avoiding walking alone. Keeping God’s commandments in our hearts leads to love for God and our neighbor. We should discuss putting this love into action.

Here are some ideas for this Sunday for your youth ministry, class, or family.

Mass Readings for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

See resources, homilies, and more for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A readings here.

• First Reading – Isaiah 55:10-11: The word of the Lord is like rain and snow that comes down from the heavens, watering the earth and making it fertile. Similarly, God’s word that comes from His mouth will not return to Him empty, but it will accomplish His purpose and fulfill His will.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 65: The passage describes how God has enriched and blessed the land with water, preparing it for a bountiful harvest. The response “The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest” emphasizes the importance of planting on fertile soil to ensure a successful crop.
• Second Reading – Romans 8:18-23: The present sufferings of believers are incomparable to the glory that will be revealed to them. The passage describes how all of creation is groaning in pain, eagerly awaiting its redemption and liberation from decay, and how believers also groan inwardly, awaiting the redemption of their bodies.
• Gospel – Matthew 13:1-23: Jesus speaks to a large crowd in parables about the kingdom of heaven, using the metaphor of seeds and soil. He explains that those who receive the word of the kingdom and understand it will produce a fruitful harvest, while those who do not understand it will not bear fruit.

Mass Readings for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

See resources, homilies, and more for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B readings here.

• First Reading – Amos 7:12-15: Amaziah orders Amos to leave Bethel and prophesy elsewhere. Amos responds he was called by God from his life as a shepherd to prophesy to Israel.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 85: I pray to hear God’s promises of peace and witness his glory in our land. His salvation is near, and he blesses us with abundant harvests and righteousness.
• Second Reading – Ephesians 1:3-14 or 1:3-10: We are blessed in Christ with spiritual riches, chosen to be holy, redeemed by his sacrifice, and sealed with the Holy Spirit, fulfilling God’s plan for unity and glory.
• Gospel – Mark 6:7-13: Jesus empowered the Twelve, sending them with minimal provisions to preach repentance, expel demons, and heal the sick. They were to stay in welcoming homes and leave unwelcoming places.

Mass Readings for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

See resources, homilies, and more for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C readings here.

• First Reading – Deuteronomy 30:10-14: “If only you would heed the voice of the LORD, your God, and keep his commandments and statutes that are written in this book of the law, when you return to the LORD, your God, with all your heart and all your soul.”
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 69: “Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.”
• Alternate Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 19: “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.”
• Second Reading – Colossians 1:15-20: “Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”
• Gospel – Luke 10:25-37: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

More About Lectionary Cycles

Learn more about the difference between a Bible and a Lectionary, how the Lectionary is arranged, and translations of the Bible used at Mass on the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time.